Sept 2012 chemo

2 days to go until chemo day.At work I have told very few people, today I had the difficult conversation with the VP that i report to. He was incrediably supportive. Another girl I work with, walked into my office and just started crying really hard. For me that has been the hardest part of cancer...

I am getting my "bag" ready for Thursday, and prepping my team at work as to our gameplan for the next couple of weeks. 

For those of you who stated your chemo last week it is encouraging to see that you have been able to get some exercise. As a runner, I have been stressing about a weight gain..

Cherioo- I am DEFINATELY having issues with bowel movements....  I need to take some dulcolax tonight and start adding in some miralax during the day to get things back on track I think.

Damiana increase your fluid intake also, to 8-10 glasses of water a day. If you have a hard time getting it down drink hot water.



There is a excellent book called The Chemotherapy Survival Guide by Judith McKay RN ONC and Tamera Schacher RN ONC MSN. Lots of tips for the different phases of your 21 day chemo journey.

No fun when you are on the "C" train.  You can take OTC stool softeners meds like Colace or Sennekot. Make sure you drink lots of water if you take a stool softener.  Milk of Magnesia is a laxative which may also help.to help with that situation.  You can also increase amount of high fiber foods ( fruits & veggies, Wheat bran, raisins, apples, prunes, whole grain cereals and breads) you eat.  I had light constipation now and then from the Zofran (anti-nausea drug I took) and made an effort to keep eating high fiber foods rather than take an OTC med.  I ate Sunsweet Ones prunes ( individually wrapped prunes that are really sweet and moist) and always added wheat bran cereal to my morning bowl of oatmeal and fruit.  I know the idea of eating prunes sounds not wonderful but I would eat one-two prunes with or after every meal.  Again, you need to continue to drink lots of fluids if you eat more high fiber bulk foods.  Hope those who are on the "C" train, get off soon!!!!!     

@Cheerio I haven't personally had that issue, but they told me that it could happen. They told me in chemo class three steps. Start with extra fiber like Metamucil, then go to Colace stool softener, then go to laxatives as a last resort. I have to take Iron supplements because my iron is low, so I'm worried about constipation too.

Good mrning melrose...you have been great with all this information...my port is doing great...not that i want it there but guess what i am on my way to win this battle whooooooohooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! i wake up every day happy thinking I"M DOING IT!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you!!!!

Jojo....i did tynelo and place some cold pads but it really didnt hurt ..just like u said just some med and the port was fine couldnt sleep that well cause i sleep side ways so that was kinds of hard but i did some rest now im of to see the onco to see when i start my treatment!!!!!!

I got my wig yesterday and I must say - I like it!  Not sure how much I will wear it, but glad I have it.

Glad its going well Patricia.  I still don't sleep on my right side anymore cause I don't like the way it makes the port feel.

Wondering how the Amy's are doing? 

Good luck to you Cindy74 you can do this!!!!!!!!!!! YES WE CAN......YES WE CAN ......YES WE CAN......!!!i will be sending out our angels!!!!

If you are looking for chemo hats.....here a great website that i love!!!!

 www.headcovers.com

Im back! Seems I have been so busy this week I havent had a chance to read but I finally just read thru the last 5 pages! All of you are amazing.. I love the ideas you all have and took notes as I read lol

As of Sunday I have felt great! I managed to clean my carpets, get house work caught up, grocery shop, and some yard work! I am def not looking forward to my next treatment on the 19th but Im gonna take it in stride. 

Since I was last on I bought a wig and a hat Love both! The wig isnt here yet but cant wait, Im loving the fact that I will never have to style my hair or color it.. I am def going to look into latisse. The going bald I can handle but I want my eyebrows and lashes! Im gonna fight to keep them...

JoJo.. So glad the melatonin is working for you! I love it!

Donna.. I love your attitude and I can feel your aura through your words and its amazing! I also plan to hit that website headcovers.com  I must say you do look beautiful bald!

Patrica..I too have a teen he is 15 and I am not sure he is handling this well. I am his stepmom but we have full costody his real mom lives in FL we live in MI she is pretty much out of the pic. I take claimes to him. But he refuses to talk about it.. Im at a loss hes a great Kid!

I have been big into eating right and smoothies have become second nature I wanted to share one with all of you it sounds gross but trust me when I say the fruit covers the green!

Dr Oz's Green Drink

 Ingredients
2 cups spinach
2 cups cucumber
1 head of celery
1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root
1 bunch parsley
2 apples
Juice of 1 lime
Juice of 1/2 lemon

I added a banana too and left out the ginger since it has anit-inflamatory effects my MO says to keep this cancer inflammed so chemo can kick its ass! With this green drink you will have to add ice and a lil water. This is a great detox drink! Gets all the impurities out...

I plan to buy a ninja its a blender that is Amazing! Smoothies are great specially when you feel like crap and your mouth hurts. Its way easier to drink a glass full that consistes of all yummy good for you stuff than to prepare and chew a meal. 

Another Fav of mine is this:

1 cup OJ, a few strawberries, banana, blueberry, 1 plain greek yogurt, and some Kale.

Hope everyone has smiles on their faces today! Its beautiful outside and life is good..

Amy - tell me about your wig?  Did you match ur current style/color?

I approached the wig selection by searching on YouTube.  Wigs.com and Vogue Wigs have "how to" and reviews of wigs there (plus tons of other people showing you their wigs). The color charts at the websites are very misleading, but the YouTube review videos capture them well.  My goal was to find a middle of the road one (cost) and one that looked natural.  I didn't spend the extra on human hair since I am not sure how much I plan to wear it.  I bought a synthetic one that you can curl or straighten with heat.  I matched my color and pre BGC length so most people wouldn't or I hope won't notice too much difference.  I spent $250.00 on mine (Jon Renau wig) - that seemed to be middle of the road from my research. 

A week ago today, I had my first chemo treatment.  The weekend was rough, as I had church Sunday, my DD first baby shower that afternoon and a class at church that night.  I took a LONG nap between the shower and the class, that helped.

 Main SE has been tired, and some nausea.  Been taking the ativan, but not regular as it makes me sleepy.  Not super hungry anyway.

Going to my breast surgeon in a couple of hours b/c of possible infection.  My incision from the lymph node removal is deep red in a circle about 8 inches wide.  It is hot and the right breast is swollen almost twice it's size.  The oncologist started me on avalox Monday night until I could get into the surgeon today.  Anyone else had anything like this?

Also, has anyone else had shoulder pain on the side of the port?  It is behind the shoulder blade and deep in the arm (where you get a shot).

 Hope everyone is holding in ok.

Sandee

Mariposa.. I was taking turmeric also before chemo and my MO said its a great thing but any food that is a natural anit-inflamatory should be cut out until after treatment. What she said was she wants my cancer to be inflamed so chemo can hit it at its worst. Hope this help.

But my MO did say after do take the turmeric since its a good thing to fight cancer. She is even in a study that is ongoing about turmeric and recommends it after.

@amy4978 Thank you so much sweetie! I have really tried to stay positive through this whole process. I am a firm believer in what doesn't kill us makes us stronger and this beast is not taking any of us down...I believe that sincerely. So we will embrace our treatments, embrace each other, and hopefully by next spring or summer we will all be back to our fabulous selves...lol. That's my plan anyway ;-). It nice to meet you hun.